Spanking Your Child?

corporal punishment

Should you be spanking your child?  In today’s society many Christians and others are faced with this difficult question,  In my book “The Little Red Book for Parents – Parenting the Next Generation” I share how to use Biblical principles to effectively correct and discipline your child. I have included a short excerpt below from that portion of the book to help give some proper perspective and instruction. I also, have included a link to a FREE download for the entire book.  Spanking your child – to spank or not spank?

 

EXCERPT – “Most Americans over the last two hundred years have believed in the value of corporal punishment and have used a “switch,” yardstick, paddle, belt, or hand to spank their children. It has been a part of discipline not only in the home, but in our schools systems and other institutions as well. However, over the last forty years the question of “spanking” has become one of the most controversial subjects – even among Christian parents.

 

 There have been organizations and groups actively working to ban corporal punishment and redefine child abuse to a point of creating such a negative stigma that many now fear using corporal punishment. Make no mistake, genuine child abuse is taking place every day in America. Some parents are burning, torturing, and even killing their children. This type of behavior is obviously without excuse and has legal consequences.

 

That being said, these extremes should not be used as an argument against the legitimate and proper use of discipline. The reaction to the gross physical and sexual abuse of our children has swung the pendulum too far the other way and has put us in the other ditch. We must not “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” Regardless of the passionate appeal and arguments of those who want to ban corporal punishment, those of us who recognize the Bible as the inspired Word of God must remain committed to properly following biblical instruction regarding discipline so we can effectively raise Godly children.

 

So, what does the Bible say? Does it advocate or sanction the spanking of children? The following are a few key verses: …. (you can read them and the commentary in the book – link is below) ………………………

 

The importance and value of correcting your child with the Word of God in conjunction with appropriately administering the rod of correction, cannot be overstated.

 

Seven tips to help you appropriately administering the rod of correction: (they are listed and detailed in the book – link below)……………

 

Using the rod for correction properly along with sowing the Word of God in your child’s heart is part of the Biblical process to effectively train Godly children. However, before using the rod of correction to discipline your child you must fully understand what is appropriate and what is not. If you discipline with hostility, anger, frustration or even hatred you will sow seeds of resentment and rebellion in their hearts.

 

In closing on this subject there are a couple of points I need to emphasize. First, I want to make perfectly clear there is nothing in God’s word about discipline that makes any allowance for child abuse.  Jesus protected and loved the little children and we should too.  Anyone who physically abuses a child deserves to receive whatever the full extent of the law can impose upon them.  To harm or injure a child for any reason is without excuse.

 

Second, using the rod of correction for discipline can be misused in many ways.  Love must be the motivation in dealing with any child.  Using the rod of correction can be too harsh, too inconsistent, too late, too hasty and too much.  The fact that you apply the rod of correction to your children does not make you a godly or righteous parent.  You must use God’s wisdom and implement the discipline as intended for correction and the good of the child.”

 

Every parent has the responsibility of raising their children and doing it in the manner they deem appropriate, but it should always be done with love.  In no way do I want to impose my beliefs on anyone. I only share the Biblical perspective and insight for Christian parents who

DIscipline in love by pastor bruce edwards

Spanking Your Child

want help in being a Godly parent. Nor do I believe any other person or group have a right to impose their philosophies on us as Christians.  “Parents Magazine” had an article from a secular perspective titled “Is It Okay to Spank” if you want additional input from a different perspective.

 

There are those who say just talk to your child. I agree and share how to include that in the process of discipline and nurturing your child. (make sure to download the whole book) However, there are many parents who verbally abuse their children. The way they speak to their child, the things they say, and the tone in which they say them can scar a child for years. So, because some parents have no self control with how they speak to their children do we then come to the conclusion it is wrong to talk to your child. We need wisdom and common sense to prevail in how to properly respond to issues in our society.

 

parentbookcover1I encourage to download my book to read the entire chapter on discipline and the other Biblical insights on how to raise Godly children in our world today.   

 

CLICK HERE or on the book icon to get your free EBOOK.

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